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Abstract:
NYC event features keynote address by former Governor George Pataki

The Nanoethics Group to Speak at Nanotechnology Law & Commerce Forum

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | Posted on January 13th, 2008

The Nanoethics Group today announced that its co-founder, Dr. Fritz Allhoff, is scheduled to speak at the upcoming "Nanotechnology Law & Commerce: Business at One-Billionth of a Meter" forum hosted by Chadbourne & Parke LLP on January 31 at the prominent international law firm's offices in New York City.

Examining the fast-growing, interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology from a business and legal perspective, this event will bring together leading entrepreneurs, investors, insurers, regulators, academics, policymakers, corporate counsel and other stakeholders to share their insight and perspective on the various issues and forces most likely to shape global commerce in nanotechnology. Opening remarks will be provided by Chadbourne counsel George E. Pataki, the former Governor of New York, who was instrumental in bringing a nanotechnology research center, as well as the first college of nanotechnology in the nation, to the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY-Albany).

"Nanotechnology offers enormous promise and challenge, both commercially and legally," explained David L. Wallace, Chadbourne litigation partner as well as conference organizer and chair. "We are pleased to have Dr. Allhoff, from a highly-regarded nanoethics organization, to inform us about the ethical and social issues that the industry, policymakers, and public at large need to consider in evaluating and determining the most responsible movement forward on nanotechnology, in light of its risk profile."

Dr. Allhoff, also an assistant professor of philosophy at Western Michigan University, added, "It's encouraging to see business-oriented conferences starting to engage in nanoethics, even if that tempers some of the enthusiasm about nanotechnology's potential. No balanced discussion is possible without looking at both nanotechnology's upside and risks, beyond near-term environmental or safety issues. We applaud Chadbourne for its foresight to include such a discussion on its agenda."

The event begins at 1:00 p.m. and concludes at 6:00 p.m., followed by a reception. For more information and to register, please visit www.chadbourne.com/events/2008/nano.

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About The Nanoethics GroupBased at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo), The Nanoethics Group is a non-partisan research organization formed to study nanotechnology‚s impact on society and related ethical issues. As professional ethicists, we help to identify and evaluate possible harms and conflicts as well as to bring balance and common sense to the debate. Our mission is to educate and advise both organizations and the broader public on these issues as a foundation to guide policy and responsible research. For more information, please visit www.nanoethics.org.